Life....

OK bloggers...we were do for a serious one.  I know it's Friday, but it can't be ALL fun and games.  A friend of mine posted the most profound picture on Facebook the other day.  It's a picture of a white (man or woman...can't really tell) person's hand holding the hand of an African (or person of black skin color) refugee's hand.  The hand is SOOOOO tiny and frail.  The wrist is about the same size as the index finger of the person holding the hand.  The caption...."you hate your life, while some people dream of having your life."  It's so true.  I don't want to speak for anyone else but myself, but there are those days when I think...geesh...my life is so difficult.  I think, so many bad things have happened in the past year....things HAVE to get  better.  Well, I USED to think that.  I printed several copies of the picture, one of which hangs on my computer screen.  Another copy I keep in my wallet, to look at when I'm feeling sorry for myself, or to share with someone else who thinks that their life is so bad.  I'm almost ashamed that it took seeing that picture and reading that caption to realize how well off I am.  Every day when I go to Starbuck's and spend in upwards of $3 for a coffee, I pass a homeless man that sleeps on a cardboard box.  I walk right by this man EVERYDAY, and I needed a picture of an African refugee to remind me of what I have and what I have to be thankful for.  It's a shame....and I am ashamed.  My Father has done a great deal of work on mission trips in Africa.  Each time he would come home he would show me pictures and tell of the great work he did to help those less fortunate.  He was always looking for an accolade.  I couldn't give him one.  Not because we have this strange Love Hate relationship, but because we have SO many people in our own country that need help...people that we walk by EVERY day, but everyone wants to go on a mission trip......in my mind, to say that they have.  They do it with their churches and feel that they are getting closer to God.....but are they?  Maybe they are actually getting farther away since they have to walk over people on our very own streets to get to the airport to fly across the globe to help those less fortunate.  It's not glamorous to help the people in your own community or in your own country.  No one writes an article about you or asks you to speak in front of your church for helping the guy sleeping on a cardboard box outside of Starbuck's.....but that's the point.  You shouldn't do it for recognition or to mark an item off of your "bucket list".  We need to do it because we are all the same.  Today it's him...tomorrow that could be me.  If it were me, how would "I" feel to be walked over, passed by, turned away from....only to know that the person ignoring me is paying thousands of dollars to fly across the globe to help someone less fortunate.  Save the airfare and let's start at home.  Let's help OUR brothers and sisters that need us in our OWN communities.  Let's strengthen our FORCE and THEN go an help others.   Help starts at home.  Let's not judge and let's not turn a blind eye.  Just because you walk over them, turn your head away, don't make eye contact....doesn't mean they don't exist.  The next time you think you have it bad, go sleep on a cardboard box outside of Starbuck's...that is until the Police tell you that you are not allowed to do that and ask you to move on.  Live on the street for one night and THEN feel sorry for yourself.  Don't eat for one day...then ask how bad your life is.  Remember there is someone out there who dreams of having your life.  LOVE THY BROTHER.